Flexible Work Schedules by Sherri Linsenbach

Flexible work schedules can ensure that one parent is home while the other is at work. For instance, you may work from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., and your partner may work the nightshift from 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. In this way, a parent is always at home with the children, ensuring one-on-one time with the kids while overseeing the education process.

In this scenario, you may have some quiet time with your partner in the early mornings before the kids awaken. Then, after breakfast and before you go to work, you could start the kids on the lesson plans for the day. While you're away, your partner can help them with projects or questions, making sure they're staying on track. When you return in the late afternoon, you and your partner can spend more time with the kids, working on lessons and projects before it's time for the next work shift. This provides a great opportunity for children to have time alone with each parent, as well as time with both parents together each evening.

Of course, the parent working the nightshift will need to sleep at some point during the day. If your children are mature enough to handle themselves properly while a parent is sleeping, they should be capable of completing lessons on their own with little supervision. If the children are too young to be on their own while the parent sleeps, they can go to a relative's or sitter's home, or to a daycare when you work the dayshift.